This Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta

SWB – three of the most fabled letters to refer to a Ferrari.

From 1960 to 1962 Ferrari produced this, the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, and it was to become one of the most successful, desirable and best-loved models to ever come from Maranello. Powered by Ferraris iconic, Colombo-designed, 3.0-litre V12, and designed by Carrozzeria Pininfarina and built in collaboration with Carrozzeria Scaglietti, the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta was as at home on the French Riviera as it was racing along the Mulsanne straight at 3am on a Sunday morning in June for the Le Mans 24 Hour race.

Over its lifetime, the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta won its class at the Le Mans 24 Hours race twice, in 1960 and 1961. It also dominated the demanding Tour de France Automobile, claiming outright victory three time consecutively from 1960 to 1962. In 1960 and 1961 it also won the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood along with GT class victories at the Nurburgring 1000 KM. On track, the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta continued the Ferrari tradition of world-wide success.

The car offered here, chassis 3463 GT was completed at the Ferrari factory in early 1962, finished in Nocciola (Hazelnut) over a Nero VM8500 interior. This road specification 250 GT SWB Berlinetta is the eleventh of only fourteen right hand-drive examples built, and one of only two delivered new o the United States of America.

3463 GT was delivered new through Luigi Chinetti Motors of New York to Otto Zipper Motors in Los Angeles, who sold the car to its first owner, John von Neumann in California. Neumann was a sports car enthusiast, turn race car driver. Having started his racing career in the late 1940’s, Neumann began racing with and MG TD and Porsche 356 SL before racing a Ferrari 500 Mondial in 1954. A Ferrari 750 Monza and 860 Monza brought many victories before Neumann began racing a 250 TR and 335S, regularly entering high-profile events including the 12 Hours of Sebring, and 1000 KM of Buenos Aires. Previously, Neumann had also owned a Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta ‘Tour de France’ which was also finished in Nocciola, clearly a fan of a hazelnut Ferrari!

By the end of the late 1960’s, this Ferrari was offered for sale through Robert ‘Bob’ Grossman’s dealership in New York State before being bought by Ken Philips in Pennsylvania. A year later, in 1977, this car was listed in the Ferrari Owners Club USA membership directory and owned by William C. Trimble in Maryland. In the early 1980’s 2464 GT was repainted dark blue metallic and advertised for sale by Ron Spangler’s Prancing Horse Farm of Bel Air, Maryland for nearly $2,000,000 USD. The car remained in the United States of America before being bought by an English collector in 2008.

During this English ownership, the car has been lovingly maintained by Ferrari specialists, Bob Houghton, and in 2011 was awarded its FIVA Identity Card. The same year this car briefly returned to Italy to attend the Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance on the shores of Lake Como.

The car has recently been inspected by Tony Willis of The Maranello Concessionaires Archive and presented to Ferrari Classiche for Certification. It has been confirmed this car retains its original chassis, engine, gearbox, rear axle and body. Ferrari Specialists, Bob Houghton, have also fully serviced the car in August of this year at a cost exceeding £5,000, ensuring the next owner will be able to enjoy this incredibly rare and important Ferrari.

Price Upon Application